by Kevin Allen, USA TODAY Sports

by Kevin Allen, USA TODAY Sports

When Ducks players talk about the near-perfect climate they have in Anaheim, they aren't just talking about the weather.

They could be talking about their entertaining blend of veterans and younger players, their loveable old-school coach or the fact they are nearly invincible at home.

"This has been so fun for me to play in Anaheim," said defenseman Ben Lovejoy, who came over in a trade with the Pittsburgh Penguins last season.

What's not to like: The Ducks have the NHL's best record this season (35-8-5) and they have yet to lose in regulation at home this season (19-0-2). If they win or at least reach overtime on Wednesday, they'll tie the third-longest, season-starting home points streak over the last 40 years.

The Ducks have won 17 of their last 18 games and are on a seven-game winning streak.

"We have so much talent and depth up front," Lovejoy said. "We have incredible forwards on all four lines and right now, the defensemen's job is just to play really good defense."

In a league where only the top teams average three goals a game, the Ducks have scored five or more goals 12 times this season.

"It makes life easier for a defenseman and a goalie knowing that if you do make a mistake, we have the firepower to score," Lovejoy said. "When we have been in a difficult situation, Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry have stepped up and scored that goal every time." They have been so good, so clutch."

Getzlaf and Perry, both 28, have been offensive soul mates since they were drafted in the first round in 2003. But they're hitting their prime this season. Getzlaf, day-to-day with a bruised foot, is fourth in the NHL scoring race with 23 goals and 53 points in 44 games. Perry is sixth with 25 goals and 49 points.

"We knew coming into this season that we had a good team and had a chance to do some things this season," Getzlaf said. "We played pretty well in the shortened-season (in 2012-13) and we all got to know each other pretty well. We expected to be at the top of the league."

The Ducks began this season with questions on defense, because Sheldon Souray, a vital player last season, suffered an offseason injury and Toni Lydman retired.

But 19-year-old defenseman Hampus Lindholm helped the team overcome the adversity by playing well enough to put himself in contention for rookie of the year. He's tied for fourth in the NHL in plus-minus plus 23) while playing 19 minutes, 23 seconds a game. This is a player who wasn't projected to make the team.

Veteran Francois Beauchemin is plus 22 and plays 22:18 a game.

Another change for the Ducks is Lovejoy taking another step in his development and Cam Fowler playing well enough to land a spot on the U.S. Olympic team. Fowler and Lovejoy play together.

"We are trying really had not to get scored on, and Cam and I have made that our only focus," Lovejoy said.

That's a little bit of a change for Fowler, a marvelous skater with an appetite for offense.

"From the start of the season, Cam made it his goal to be a defensive defenseman," Lovejoy said. "He is a shutdown defenseman now playing on the best team in the league. Cam was an offensive defenseman. He judged his game on how many points he was getting. No matter how he was playing, if he wasn't putting up points he didn't feel like he was playing up to his ability. He came in this season wanting to be a defenseman."

He still gets points. "But he hasn't cheated to get them," Lovejoy said.

Members of the U.S. Olympic selection committee took note of how steadily, consistently and efficiently Fowler was playing.

"We are not traditional shutdown defensemen," Lovejoy said. "We are not big, physically imposing guys. But we both skate well. Our job is to be in the right position."

While Getzlaf and Perry are offensive forces, they have a strong ensemble cast. Dustin Penner has 11 goals, more than he totaled the last two seasons with the Los Angeles Kings.

"This all kind of dates back to last season when I think it all started to turn around from a depth standpoint," Getzlaf said. "I think some guys came in this year ready to play some bigger roles, and it's helped our group."

The glue holding the team together, and perhaps making it more entertaining, is coach Bruce Boudreau. He's like everyone's father, a little different, usually foul-mouthed, often funny and always a disciplinarian.

"He's a fantastic coach," Lovejoy said. "He's so good at putting people in a position to be successful. He gets the best out of everyone because he puts them in a position where they are not going to fail."